Khuda Kay Liye..

If given a choice between Pakistani movies and Pakistani TV shows/serials, one would settle for the small screen any day.

Cinema in India has undergone a sea change and whether one likes it or not, the harsh fact remains that cinema here is entertainment driven. In that respect, KHUDA KAY LIYE is miles apart.

You really don't take to the film at the outset. For, it takes time to come to the point, but once it does, there's no stopping it. However, there's a flip side as well. A theme like the one depicted in the film is not everyone's cup of tea. Although one does identify with the proceedings, the film is more for the thinking viewer, for those who dissect cinema after watching it, it's a film that sparks off debates and discussions.

One cannot turn eyes away from the fact that Khuda Kay Liye is a well-made film that reaffirms a dangerous fact - the world is only getting more and more divided!

The film depicts the dilemma the well-educated, progressive-thinking and liberal Pakistanis face, post 9/11. The West looks at them as potential terrorists, while fundamentalists frown on them.

The educated and modern Muslims are in a difficult situation because of their approach towards life and their western attire. They are criticized and harassed by the fundamentalists and on the other hand, the western world sees them as potential suspects of terrorism just because of their Muslim names.

The film has two stories running concurrently. The elder brother wants to pursue music as a career and leaves for the U.S. The younger brother is so influenced by the fundamentalists that he turns into an altogether different person completely. The younger brother's story of forcibly marrying a woman, the woman wanting to flee from his clutches but can't, takes you back to the Karisma Kapoor starrer Shakti-The Power. The elder brother's story is novel and deftly executed. In fact, the elder brother's story is heart breaking.

Director knows exactly what he's talking about and has handled several portions with dexterity, especially the penultimate 20 minutes in the courtroom. Only thing is, the chaste Urdu spoken by Naseeruddin Shah is difficult to decipher. Naseeruddin Shah, as always, is awesome.

There can't be a better way to portray such sensitive things with so much ease. The sound track will surely make your emotions flow. I still have one doubt: Whether Muslim people willingly choose the way they lead their life or whether they are the victims of the society and the traditions and the culture in Pakistan.